Welcome to my monthly recap & roundup of all my favorite things from August!
If you missed last month’s, you can read it here.
August Recap
All around August has been a very busy month. As a teacher, this is to be expected, as the start of school is one of the busiest times of the whole year! Transitioning from summer with more relaxed days and less stress back to work with more structure and higher stress has been difficult at times, but I am also so thankful to be back in a routine and back with my students!
At the beginning of this month, I had my first book club meeting! (I recently decided to start a book club to encourage myself to read more and to connect with other girls who have similar interests to me!) We had a get-to-know-you meeting at the beginning of August, and as you are reading this on Monday night, we are having our very first book club! Starting something like this was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I am so excited to see where it goes! I hope to write a newsletter with more details and how I started the book club soon. Stay tuned!
Also this month, my parents came down for a weekend visit. I always love when they come to town, and I get to share my world with them! Recently, we have them seen them for wedding festivities and funerals, but it was nice to just have time to relax and not do anything crazy.
Finally, my last update is that now that school has started, I am so excited and ready for FALL! I think I have decided I am way more of a fall/winter girl than spring/summer, but I might change my mind once it gets below 50 outside. But probably not.
Reading
Because of the start of school, I have not had quite as much time to read as I did in the summer. However, I have finished two books that I have really enjoyed!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: For book club this month, we decided to read “Where the Crawdads Sing.” It was the perfect read for the end of summer, and being able to watch the movie after is an added bonus! If you have not read it yet, I would definitely recommend it! The writing is beautiful, the themes in it are relevant, and the story is so captivating.
Things that Matter by Joshua Becker: This book was written by a former pastor who now writes and speaks about minimalism. This book is focused on a mindset shift rather than behavioral changes, and it really makes you think about what you want to orient your life around. He discusses 8 different distractions that keep you from pursuing the things that matter - fear, past mistakes, happiness, money, possessions, applause, leisure, and technology. As I have read, I have discovered which distractions feel more prevalent for me, and once I am aware of them, it is easier for me to fight that distraction in my day to day life. I highly recommend this book!
Watching
Beth Grace Moore: Beth is a new you-tuber I have discovered this month. She makes homemaking and motherhood content, and I really do love her channel. While I am not yet a mother, I find it so inspirational and educational to watch her videos and learn things before I enter that season myself. I found her channel through a video she made about how she grocery shops, and because of her, I have been trying to do our groceries a little differently. I plan to share this in an upcoming newsletter!
Gilmore Girls: The other thing I have been watching almost non-stop is Gilmore Girls. I feel like every fall I have to start over and re-watch it. For me, it is the ultimate cozy and comfort show. Between that and college football starting on Saturday, it is really starting to feel like fall!
Listening
Heroes by Ben Rector: Ben Rector has been one of my favorite artists since high school. When his most recent album, The Joy of Music, came out last year, this song was one of my immediate favorites. It is about growing up, and he says, “it turns out the hardest part of growing up’s not getting old, it’s learning how the real world goes.” He talks about how he the optimism, simplicity, and trust of childhood. Give it a listen!
Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me by CityAlight: This is newer hymn that came out in 2018. We have sang it at church recently, and I have really been enjoyed the simplicity and repetition in hymns; I find it so comforting. This one has been on repeat in my car in the mornings. Filling my mind with the truth on the way to work is so important for my day, and I love the words in this song.
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer,
There is no more for heaven now to give.
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom,
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace.De-Influenced with Dani Austin: This podcast has quickly become one of my very favorites! I find Dani and her husband, Jordan, so entertaining. For me, it is the perfect mix of engaging and important topics, along with just casual conversation. I always laugh out loud listening to their talks!
Doing
Just Dance: August has been more stressful than I anticipated, and I have found playing Just Dance to be an excellent stress reliever. I get in some cardio, sing old throwback songs, and get to have fun! When I was younger, I used to always get come from school, go in my room, and sing and dance to whatever my favorite CD was at the time. I think my younger self would be so happy to know I am still making room for that in my life.
Reading, not just before bed: I feel like this activity for me is kind of along the same vein as Just Dance. Growing up, I would spend time reading just for fun. As a “grown-up,” I always read before bed; however, I have an alternative motive behind this, as it helps me fall asleep. This past month, I have been reading on Saturday morning or on a random weekday afternoon. There is something about reading something purely for fun at a time in the day when you could be doing something else far more productive that has been so freeing. I hope to continue this as the weather cools off and the days get cozier!
Quote
Yesterday, Jackson and I went to see the Barbie movie with some of our friends. It was honestly nothing like I expected it. It was funny, and it was thought-provoking. I enjoyed it!
In the movie, there is a very powerful, and already pretty famous, monologue performed by America Ferrera. It is all about how women are expected to be so many things to everyone and how exhausting it is. I believe a very similar monologue could be given about the expectations people place on men. I think anybody who has ever felt stretched thin, unappreciated, or inadequate will find it relatable and comforting.
“You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.”
This is just a snippet of it, but you get the idea. Let me know if you have seen the movie and what you thought!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have had a wonderful August, and I will talk to you next Monday!
Take care,
Caroline